Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) is an emerging technology for biomarker discovery and for enabling comprehensive molecular imaging in complex biological matrices. It is a suitable technique for the identification of compounds without an a priori knowledge of the composition of the sample. Since the location of compounds on tissue sections is preserved, MSI allows the identification of local abundant species in cases where spatial distribution would be lost if the whole tissue is homogenised.

In our study, we aimed to visualize the molecular distribution of molecular entities in various brain regions during the progression of Alzheimer’s disease using a well-known mouse model. This neurodegenerative disease was investigated by comparing the CRND8 mouse model to the wild type. A pilot study of nine mice was carried out. We performed in-situ digests on tissue sections which were subsequently analysed by MALDI TOF-TOF. High resolution images were acquired on various regions of interest including the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum.

We examined molecular changes and mapped targeted entities according to their location. These data were investigated in parallel with relative quantification experiments performed using complementary techniques i.e. LC-MS.

Statistical analyses were performed on the mapped species and correlated to the brain regions. Spectra from the regions of interest, such as cerebellum, were investigated.

Our aim is to highlight specific candidates that may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease.